England defender Phil Jagielka says he is not fully fit after playing just two Premier League matches since February.
The 31-year-old featured in Everton's final two games
of the season at the start of May after missing 11 matches with a
hamstring injury.
And the Toffees captain admits he needs to build up his match fitness in England's pre-tournament friendlies.
"I could do with these couple of games before the World Cup just to sharpen up," he said.
England's next steps
30 May: v Peru, Wembley2 June: Deadline for final squad to be named
4 June: v Ecuador, Miami, USA
7 June: v Honduras, Miami, USA
14 June: v Italy, World Cup, Manaus
19 June: v Uruguay, World Cup, Sao Paulo
24 June: v Costa Rica, World Cup, Belo Horizonte
Jagielka says he struggled to
deal with the intensity of England's training camp in Portugal last week
after just 156 minutes of football in the past three months.
The players
trained in three layers of clothing in the Algarve
to prepare them for the humid conditions of Manaus, where England open their World Cup campaign against Italy on 14 June.
"Warm-weather training last week was a little bit
difficult, and it will be difficult this week but it is something I
need. I do not feel 100% fit but I do feel really good at the moment,"
he said.
England face Peru on 30 May at Wembley before two games in Miami, against Ecuador on 4 June and Honduras on 7 June.
Jagielka and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, 28, are
manager Roy Hodgson's preferred centre-back pairing, and England are
unbeaten in the 10 internationals the pair have started together.
Jagielka has won 24 caps since his first senior
appearance as a substitute against Trinidad & Tobago in Port of
Spain in June 2008.
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